Jan. 2, 1920.] 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



63 



enclosures are not good. The common practice of cutting the wing of a 

 pullet right across the primary, secondary, and wing coyerets gives an 

 unsightly appearance to the birds. One often sees an otherwise fine-looking 

 lot of White Leghorn pullets spoiled in appearance by the fact that the 

 wings haye been cut in a manner suggesting that the sides of the birds had 

 been driven in, or that they are flat-sided. This is not only unsightly, but 

 it detracts from the value of birds if they are being sold for stud purposes. 



Wing-cutting for Competitions. 



The regulations governing the Hawkesbury Agricultural College Egg- 

 laying Competition call for the cutting of one wing before the birds are sent 

 to the College. The manner in which most of the wings are cut shows want 

 of knowledge or careless i ess on the part of many competitors, and the birds 



Correct Method of Cutting a Bird's Wing. 



It will be seen that, with the exception of the three first feathers, the whole of the 



flight feathers have been cut out, leavinjj their coverets untouched, while 



the secondaries and their coverets are left intact. 



are not shown to best advantage in the pens. But worse still, if these 

 particular birds happen to attain a position in the competition which warrants 

 photographs being taken, they are illustrated at a disadvantage. 



For the purpose of inducing an improvement in this regard, and for the 

 information of readers of these notes generally, an illustration is given showing 

 the correct method of cutting the wing of a bird so that it will not offend the 

 aesthetic, nor depreciate the value of the bird. No more labour is involved 

 in cutting a wing in the manner shown than would be involved in cutting it 

 the wrong way. 



As will be seen in the illustration, only the primary wing feathers are cut 

 and not all of these, two or three feathers being left to form the bow at the 

 front; when the wing is closed it appears to be a full wing, while when 

 extended there is the gap shown. This gap is quite effective in preventing 

 the bird from flying. 



